Pakistan sacks provincial government after attack

Pakistani Sunni Muslim cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, 61, center, leaves Lahore to lead an anti-government march to the capital Islamabd, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan 13, 2013 in Pakistan. After years in Canada, Qadri returned to Pakistan last month and gave a speech demanding that sweeping election reforms be implemented before elections expected to take place this spring. On Thursday, Pakistan's Minister of Interior Rehman Malik issued a strongly worded statement that Qadri would not be allowed to rally in Islamabad, warning that the Taliban might attack the event. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s prime minister says the government of a southwestern province has been dismissed in response to the demands of protesters angry about an attack on minority Shiite Muslims there that killed 86 people.

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf says the governor has been made head of Baluchistan province, replacing the chief minister. Also, paramilitary forces will launch an operation against militants behind the attack on a billiards hall Thursday.

Ashraf spoke on TV in the early morning hours Monday.

Thousands of Shiites protested for a third day Sunday in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, against the billiards hall attack, refusing to bury victims from the bombing.

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The premier flew to Quetta on Sunday to meet with the protesters, who were demanding the army take over responsibility for the city.